by Jay Glazer

Despite reports all week pointing to the return of Reggie Bush after practicing all week, Saints players told FOXSports.com that Bush actually sat out Sunday morning's walk-through practice and will not play Monday night. Bush's knee is still too sore for him to return to full action yet and the team has decided not to push him back too early, the sources said.

Bush told reporters this week he was starting to feel good and he practiced all the way up to Saturday. But in the end, the knee was still too sore and some teammates even question whether his knee will be healthy enough to go next week. Bush, meanwhile, has pushed to get back on the field, but the team is not willing to risk long-term effects that could arise with playing him too early.

Prior to going down with a knee injury in Week 7 against the Panthers, Bush had begun to fulfill the immense potential he showed in college that made him the second pick of the draft. He had 294 yards rushing and 366 yards receiving on 42 catches, scoring five TDs — two rushing and three receiving. But his return threat has made him a triple-edged sword as he has averaged a stunning 21.9 yard per punt return with three TDs.

In his place, Pierre Thomas will get the nod and recently signed Mike Bell will also see significant action.

StarCaps update

There is a potential bright spot in the fight for several NFL players appealing a four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned diuretic contained in a product named StarCaps. Usually after an appeal is heard the league makes a rapid decision and upholds the suspension within days of the hearing. But in this case, which is more complicated and convoluted than many others, there appears to be another delay.

Following hearings held throughout the past week, the league asked the attorneys for the players in question to file briefs by next Sunday, Nov. 30. Thus, if they are to be suspended, the league will not do it until they receive the additional information. On the surface, it appears they have at least another week of action, possibly two. The decision will not linger past two weeks, however, as the league would not suspend the players for playoff games.

If the league upholds the suspensions, it will not be this week. But if the NFL decides to overturn the suspensions, it could happen at any time, including before the additional briefs are filed. The Vikings and Saints are most affected by the decision the league makes as they have a combined five players facing suspensions, four of whom have been Pro Bowlers.

Ocho actually bueno

Chad Johnson's suspension this week has once again placed him in a negative light in the public's eye. It's a shame because according to several members of the Bengals — coaches and players — he has been fantastic in the locker room this season. Not good, but great.

"He has been on his best behavior," said one team source. "It's probably the best he's ever been here, or at least since his first year or so. He's been unbelievable."

But that was until he walked out of a meeting Wednesday night — right past his head coach who was telling him not to leave — and was subsequently ordered to go home. After the decision, both Johnson and his agent Drew Rosenhaus phoned Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis pleading with them to fine him, not start him, dock him pay, anything but sitting him outright.

But the Bengals told them the team has already used those punishment options and they obviously haven't fully worked.

Cincy levied a fine this week but it wasn't a huge punitive chunk. Instead, they dropped on him their normal fines for being late for a meeting and leaving a meeting early, basic fines for violating everyday team rules.

Pacman returns?

In talking to several Cowboys players about the return of Adam "Pacman" Jones, it's almost as if the troubled cornerback is invisible. The coaches have refused to talk about him the last month and even this week and the players say he's completely off their radar screen.

But why do the Cowboys owners insist on bringing a guy back if no one on the team seems to really care if he's around?

I remember a conversation I had with team owner Jerry Jones in the preseason when he told me he was not only giving Pacman a second chance at football, he was getting involved in helping the troubled youngster off the field as well.

Jerry Jones said he was going as far as helping Pacman with his finances, creditors and bills, taking a total hands-on approach to get the kid back on track in his financial life.

As for those security guards who obviously didn't guard Pacman from getting in trouble, that security detail is gone and no longer in the fold.

NFL replay revision?

There was a lot of speculation and some reports this week that claimed the NFL could change their replay procedures to allow referees a second look at instant replay on questionable situations. It all stemmed from the mess that was made at the end of the Steelers-Chargers game last Sunday.

The league's Competition Committee held a conference call meeting this week and discussed how to improve the situation but in the end they decided they would NOT change the rule and allow for a second peek. They will, however, allow the referee to go back over and buzz back upstairs to get a vocal clarification of what transpired if he so needs one. But as far as a second look, isn't going to happen.